Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 76943 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 385(@200wpm)___ 308(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76943 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 385(@200wpm)___ 308(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
What did that mean?
“I like planning.” That was easy to agree to and made his smile even wider, and I gave him a good distraction by grabbing him as he bounced by and wrapping my arms around him. As he squealed and laughed, I pulled him against me and flopped back so he was stretched out down my body. “Tell me how that would work.”
Bingo.
That was the magic phrase to get an explanation from him.
“We can plan to live here because I like the funny men, Daddy.” He shrugged when I groaned and didn’t let it stop him. “We can plan to live in Texas because you like your family and I like Wren. He’s funny and we can play together.”
Those were good points in Texas’s favor, but I wasn’t sure that was a good reason to stay. “Where else could we live?”
I wasn’t ready to agree to living next to the crazy men even if Merritt thought they were funny and he liked being able to let his little side out anywhere he wanted.
And even if he was making friends.
And even if there were a few locals who hadn’t made it their goal in life to drive me insane.
“Lots of places, Daddy.” Head bobbing side to side, Merritt frowned and pulled his brows together. “The men at the diner said Kenzie liked going to the beach. I’ve never lived next to the beach. The lady at the post office said living in a forest was the best. Oh, and a castle in a big field would be pretty. Wheat is pretty.”
He wanted me to consider a castle in a wheat field?
“I’m not sure we could keep a castle in a field hidden, little goose.” His exasperated huff and the way he collapsed down onto me almost made me laugh. “That would require a lot of magic.”
And I wasn’t sure it was practical for other reasons as well.
“How about we pick out places where there are other mages and dragons? Where are some of the people at the meeting from?” The wheat field image was distracting. “Scotland and Canada. Where else?”
“Florida, Daddy.” Merritt seemed to think I was a moron for forgetting that.
He was probably right.
“Yes, Florida. And there’s the Montana people. They seem nice.” Slightly paranoid and standoffish but polite, and they hadn’t asked any stupid questions so far. “There are a lot of places.”
I just wished more of our ancestors had traveled to places that were easier to get in and out of. Some of them weren’t practical for career purposes too.
“Lots, Daddy.” Wiggling higher up me, Merritt kissed my cheek. “You can plan and then we’ll pick.”
He was doing his best to keep me busy and happy, but it wasn’t a bad idea. “Okay, big goose. I’ll start doing some research and see which options are the most practical to start. I want to make sure you can find a job you like and that we’ll have enough space for your castle.”
“And your dragon, Daddy.” Lifting his arms out to the sides, he made a rocking, soaring motion. “Whoosh.”
Chuckling, I nodded and kissed my flying little mage. “That’s a good point too. I’ve been living in the city for so long I’ve gotten used to ignoring that.”
Merritt stopped pretending to fly and rested his chin in his hands. “Does your dragon play toys?”
It took me a second to figure out what that meant because my brain hadn’t immediately jumped to dragon-style toys.
“It’s little enough my dragon side could play with big dog toys, but my dragon is slightly lazy when we’re lounging around the house.” I was more dangerous house cat than playful pup. “He likes stretching out in the sun and taking naps.”
I usually spent time in my smaller form every Sunday afternoon I didn’t have anything else to do. It’d been enough to keep him content as long as I got out to the ranch to fly around at least once a month or so.
“Fly?” He lifted his head and looked at the room, clearly trying to imagine me swooping around the space.
“No. I do that at the ranch when I go visit. Our animals are used to it and we have plenty of privacy.” There were other ways we made sure we couldn’t be seen, but the incredible amount of space we had helped as well.
“Whoosh.” Merritt’s arms went wide again. “Daddy can have playtime too.”
“Thank you.” He still didn’t seem to have any desire to fly with me, but I appreciated him thinking about me. “What do you want, silly monkey?”
He groaned dramatically, flopping down on me again and burying his face against my neck. “Not a monkey, Daddy. Not a goose. I’m your boy.”
“You are?” Playfully acting dumb, I frowned. “Are you sure? How do you know?”
He made adorable thinking sounds and wiggled side to side like he needed the movement to let me know he was coming up with the perfect response. When he popped up, he looked cute and manipulative, even doing his best to hold back his naughty grin. “You said so, Daddy.”